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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



True Love 
Letters 

1761 



THE 

CovT^se 

of 

ri^e Lore 

in 

Colonial Ctmes 



'Being the Confessions of William Pal- 
frey of Boston and the Friendly 
Advice ^/^ Moses Brown of 
Providence Concerning 
Polly Olney 




BOSTON IN New-England: Printed at 
®!)e Jfterrpmaunt l^xtm in Summer Street, 1905 



Copyright, 1905, by 
I. B. Rich MAN 

G. P. WiNSHIP 



LiGfiARYofOCNGRESs] 
Two Ooiyies Received 
JAN 4 1906 
^Ccpynprnt Entry 

CLASS Ol xXc. No 
COPY A 






[One Hundred Twelve Copies] 



c o 


ceo 


c 




A Table 






of 






Contents 




To the Reader 


vii 


The Letters 




3 


The %esults 




34 



[v] 



C) C? C> O C? Q 



To the 

T{eader 



THS L6TTSRS printed in this 
book belong to the ^^BJiode Island 
Historical Society^ to which they were 
bequeathed by ^Moses ^rown upon his 
death in 1836. Those from palfrey are 
written in a large ^ rounds clerkly hand^ 
typical of the business communications of 
the colonial merchants, "browns replies 
are the rough and hasty drafts jotted 
down as a preliminary to the serious task 
of writing out a fair copy to be despatched 
by the post or by some private conveyance. 
(Allowance ought therefore to be made 
for the idiosyncrasies of spelling and 
grammar^ many of which no doubt were 
cor re Sled in the copies sent to "Boston. 

Mistress Polly, with whose 
fate these letters deal^ was born on fan- 

[vii] 



To the Reader 



uary 285 1744, the daughter of Joseph 
Olney^ a principal inn-keeper of Provi- 
dence in the third quarter of the seven- 
teenth century. (tAt his tavern gathered 
the youth of the town during the exciting 
days preceding the outbreak of the War 
for Independence^ and before his house 
grew the elm which served them for a 
''''Liberty Tree'' — the name by which 
the tavern was long thereafter known. 
Shortly after the affair with Palfrey ^ 
^Miss Olney contrasted a brilliant mar- 
riage with Thomas ^reene^ the son of 
a merchant of prominence in TBoston^ and 
grandson of the Thomas (jreene who was^ 
according to the recorded family tradition^ 
" Chaplain to John Qar diner of Qar- 
" diner s Island^ (with the same pay as 
" the hired men and the keep of his horse 
" extra) and ran off with his daughter 
" Elizabeth who was at school in 'Boston 
and married her J' 



cc 



[ viii ] 



To the Reader 



William Palfrey was born 
in "Boston on February 24, 1741. His 
grandson^ who became the eminent his- 
torian of 3^w England^ describes him 
as having ''''an agreable person^ a frank 
" and generous expression of countenance^ 
''great gayety and heartiness of dispo- 
" sition^ a fund of anecdote^ a seasoning 
" of original wit^ and a somewhat sedu- 
" lous attention to dress as well as man- 
" ners^ advantages which^ added to his 
" perfeSily correal habits^ his known in- 
" dustry and trustworthiness^ and his 
''forwardness and influence in the poli- 
" tic a I circles of his equals in age^ intro- 
" duced him favourably to the good so- 
" ciety of the town J' 

In 1 76 1 '^Palfrey was employed as 
a clerk in the store of ^Mr. D^thaniel 
Wheelwright^ next to the elder Hancock 
the chiefest merchant in "Boston. In iy6/\., 
shortly after the death of Hancock^ the 

[ix] 



"To the Reader 



latter s nephew^ who was already pre- 
occupied by his leadership in the social 
and political life of the town^ induced 
Palfrey to leave <S\/[r. Wheelwright and 
assist in the management of the Han- 
cock business. This association led na- 
turally^ upon the outbreak of the ^\^vo- 
lutionary War^ to public appointments. 
Palfrey became an aide to Qeneral 
Qharles Lee^ and shortly afterwards a 
member of Washington s personal staff. 
As his talents became better known he 
was made paymaster-general for all the 
Continental troops. He held this position 
until d^vember^ 1780, when he re- 
signed to become Qonsul-Qeneral to 
France. On December 20 of that year 
he embarked on the Shillala^ a six teen- 
gun ship^ and sailed out from the Qapes 
of the "Delaware. The ship was never 
heard of afterward. 

The historian Palfrey ^ in the life of 

[X] 



To the Reader 



his grandfather^ states that in 1762 
William Palfrey entered into a busi- 
ness partnership with his friend Qa%- 
neau^ a grandson of one of the Huguenot 
refugees from ^^chelle who sought an 
asylum in ^hQew England. The books in 
which were kept the accounts of their 
joint ventures are said to show ''sums 
" committed to his future bride ^ to be in- 
" vested for the common benefit^ an agre- 
" able form of retainer^ redolent of times 
''when constancy did not dwell only in 
" worlds above ^ and matrimony was a 
" methodical business afair^ How me- 
thodically Palfrey regarded matrimony^ 
this contribution to his biography will 
show. 

MosesBrown, /^ whom Palfrey 
confided his heart's desire^ was born in 
Providence on September 23, 1738. He 
was one of the "Four "Brothers'" whose 
many interests embraced most of the com- 

[xi] 



To the Reader 



mercial^ political^ religious^ educational 
and social history of ^^BJiode Island dur- 
ing the half century beginning in 1760. 
^Moses^ the youngest^ is still remembered 
as a prominent Quaker^ the founder of 
the Friends' School which now bears his 
name^ and a principal contributor and 
advisor to all good causes. <^s a young 
man^ the correspondence which he care- 
fully preserved reveals him as the lead- 
ing spirit among his youthful contempo- 
raries^ fond of strong punch and pretty 
girls ^ an aSlive brother in the fLMasonic 
fraternity^ trusted by his elders with 
delicate political manipulations^ shrewd 
in business negotiations^ always prepared 
to take the most out of life as he found it. 



[xii] 



The 
Letters 



Q O CP Q Q O CP 



True Love 

Letters 



NO. I 

Boston 19*^ Feby 1 76 1 
Dear Sir 

I TAKE this opportunity to convey to 
you the Account which you sent by 
me to Mr Wheelwright, to whom I have 
shewn it, & he appears very well satisfied. 
I am very much obliged to you, for the 
Civilities I received from you while I was 
at Providence, for which please to accept 
of my Sincere & hearty thanks, and be as- 
sured whenever it is in my power, I shall 
Endeavour to make you (in some mea- 
sure) a suitable retaliation. 

Please to give my Complements to 
Miss Sally & the other Ladies, & give 
my Love to your Brother and Dr Bowen, 
we have nothing new stirring here at pre- 
sent save that I was made a Royal Arch 
this Week, if it is not too much trouble 
would beg the favour of a Line from you 
& am Your affedionate Bro: 

& humble Servant 

Wm. Palfrey 

[3] 



Tr.ue Love Letters 



NO- 2 

"Boston 26'^ 31 arch 1761 
Dear Sir 

I RECEIVED yours of the i8th inst. 
with great Satisfadion and the more 
so as I Expeded (not knowing you were 
gone to N York) that you had Entirely 
forgot me, but am very agreeably dissa- 
pointed, hope some business will soon fall 
out to induce you to come to Boston as 
I want a Little social Conversation with 
you. 

I have Inclos'd you two small cutts, 
one for your Brother, the other please to 
accept of Yourself &hope they '11 be agree- 
able, should have sent one for the Dodor, 
but could not get but those two, please 
to give my Love to the two brethren 
abovemention'd & to N Balch. Likewise 
please to remember me to Jo. Olney & 
my best Complem'ts to all the Ladyswho 
I had the hon'* to be acquainted with at 
Providence Expecially the dear Polly, tell 
her more than I can Express at Present, 
I beleive I must make you a Confidante 
in a certain Amour that shall be nameless, 
the Gent: of thestore (Espec'y Mr. Flagg) 

[4] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 

join in th' Complem'ts to you. I am with 
Great Esteem. 

Wm. Palfrey 



[ 5] 



True Love Letters 



NO. 3 

Boston 13 ^pril 1 76 1 
Dear Sir 

A GREAT hurry of business has pre- 
vented my writing you before this 
time, which I very gladly Embrace and 
am Sorry I could not have the pleasure 
of writing you before. I got in here about 
the time I sett, when I came away from 
Providence which was on Monday Morn- 
ing about 8 o'clock after a very fatiguing 
Journey & Excessive hard Riding. 

Inclos'd you have a Letter for P y 

which I doubt not you will be kind Enough 
to deliver her, & in as private a manner 
as the Nature of the thing will admitt of. 
I must Confess, a Correspondence with 
the fair Sex is vastly agreeable to me. 
Especially with one who I have so great 

a Regard for as I have for P y & am 

very Sorry that I was oblig'd to leave Pro- 
vidence before I had an opportunity to 
settle the affair with her, as I was deprived 
of that pleasure by her being gone to one 
of the Neighbours a Visiting, however, 
hope I shall have another opportunity 

soon. 

[6] 



LsETTER from Mr. Palfrey 

The bearer of this, Dod' Jackson, a 
very intimate Friend of mine & a brother 
of ours, being an Entire Stranger in 
Pj.Qyce. should, take as a favour done my- 
self if you'd take Notice of him & intro- 
duce him to your acquaintance (Expe- 
cially of the Females), his own Worth & 
Meritt will be a Sufficient Recommenda- 
tion, so I need not mention anything on 
that head, my Complem^' to all Friends, 
be kind Enough to tell Balch his Brother 
came home yesterday in perfed health & 
has made a fine voyage, please to write 
1^ the post or first opp^* to 

Your friend & Bro'* 

Wm. Palfrey 



Excuse my writing on such bad Paper as 
it's 12 o'clock at night & can't get no 
other. 



[7] 



True Love Letters 



NO- 4 

Boston if^ tdug^' 1 76 1 
Dear Sir 

WHEN I was last at Providence I 
had not the pleasure of Seeing you 
which I was very Sorry for. I should have 
wrote you before but having a great hurry 
of business prevented. I was last week in- 
form'd (to my great Surprize) that Polly 
was a going to be married next week to 
one Mr. Bowers of Swanzey, a Nephew 
of Jerathmel Bowers's. I should not have 
beleiv'd it, if it had been only a Common 
Report, but I was told it by a Person who 
accidentaly heard Mr Bowers say, that he 
was going to be married immediately & 
had come to town to prepare things for 
that purpose, upon the Questions being 
ask'djto whom? he made answer, to Miss 

Po — y O y of Providence. I have 

Enquired of several People from thence 
& they tell me they know nothing of it 
& that if she is courted by anybody it is 
by Moses Brown. I am very thankfull 
that I have not (as yet) advancd so far 
but that I can Retreat with Honour, but 
shall be glad You will let me know the 
^ [8] 



Letter /r^;;^ Mr. Palfrey 

true State of the case by the Return of 
the Post without fail, that I may know 
how to Regulate my future proceedings. 
I hope sincerely that I shall find there is 
nothing in that Report & Shall Rely upon 
your friendship in the Affair. 

Remember me to the Fraternity and 
all other Acquaintance & believe me 

Your affedionate Bro'* 

& hum^^ Servt. 

Wm. Palfrey 



Addressed: 

Moses Brown Esq 
{Merchant 

in Providence 

^ MUMFORD 

to he left at W' Olney's 



[9] 



True Love Letters 



Trovidence^ August 22*'''» 1 76 1 
Sir 

IREC^ yours of y^ 17th Inst, with as 
much surprize as you Rec^ y^ Acc^ of 
Pollys going to be Marrid, at both y^ Re- 
ports of Mr. Bowers Precipitateness and 
fondness of Publishing it (tho in his Usual 
Manner) and that of Courting of her. 
The Latter Report has I believe been the 
Longest Date as I Acknoledge. I have 
been Jestingly Told it by my Compan- 
ions &c. But you may be Assured there 
never has been any such Determination 
nor any Words of Martrimony past be- 
tween us. But the Whole is ocation'd by 
my being an Intimate friend & Acquain- 
tance of hers. As to the former Mr Bow- 
ers may have a Design of Courting P y 

for time but as yet I believe I may Ven- 
ter to say he has not. Tho ab^ 3 Weeks 
past, She being at Swansy at Some Re- 
lations Mr. Bowers Came in Comp. with 
her to providence and Tarry'd at Mr. Ol- 
neys & our House 2 or 3 Days During 
which Time he Waited on her and Since 
I have not heard from him 'till the Recp^ 
[10] 



L.ETTEK from Mr. Brown 

of yours But I here note when he Left 
providence he Told me he had Business 
in Boston that Cal'd him in a short Time. 
I assure you (you'l here I hope Excuse 
my plainness as its what I Chuse to Deal 
in and think it ought to be Incoraged Ra- 
ther than Deceit) When by Enquiring I 
was Informed you pay'd your Addresses 
to a young Lady in Boston and Conse- 
quently your Designs Could not Corri- 
spond with your Declaration to Me I thot 
my self with Po — y most Illy and Very 
ungenteelly Used by you, haveing Rec'^ 
from you Several Letters, the Amouras 
Contents of which I Rec'^ and communi- 
cated with Sincerity, Such part thereof to 
Po — y as I thot Consistant with the Mu- 
tual friendship I profest to you both.' 

But since the Recp^ of that to which I 
here Answer, I am again Induc'd to be- 
lieve that your Words or that which you 
have Written Speaks your Inclinition to 
Adion. Therefore I Balance the Report of 
your Courting with that of mine as Know- 

' Note y^ Contrary had it been y" Case as you have 
heard of me and I continued offering you my Ser- 
vices iffc who would not have Upbraided me with 
Breach of Friendship Highest Ingratitude ^c. 



True Love Letters 



ing the Latter & Believing the former to 
be as yet only fancy & Report and shall 
only ad that I am pritty Well Acquaintd 
with Mr. Bowers and If I mistake not 
he is Nephew to or in the footsteps of his 
Unkle Jerathmal. 

My Compl'ts to all Enq^' Friends, and 
to further Assure you of my Disinterest- 
edness in this affair, its my Real Opinion 
that Po — y is Clear from any Engage- 
ments as possable. Least I should give too 
great Reason to be Branded with that 
odious Tittle of a prolix Writer I Submit 
the Afforegoing as an Answer to your Re- 
quest & believe me to continue as here- 
tofore your friend & Brother, 

M. B. 



[12] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 



NO- 6 

Boston 24*^ ^ug'- 1 76 1 
Dear Sir 

I HAVE but just time to inform you 
that I receivd yours of the 23"! but be- 
ing Extremely hurried in getting some 
papers Ready to go to New York by a 
private hand, I must deferr answering till 
next post, till when I rest 

Your afFedionate Brother 

& humble Servant, 

Wm. Palfrey 



if anything occurs in the mean while shall 
be glad you'll give me notice "^ the re- 
turn of the post. 



[13] 



True Love Letters 



NO- 7 

Boston n/tug^' 31 1 76 1 
Dear Sir 

I HAD not time to answer yours of the 
iQ^'-hj Last post as I was prevented 
by some particular business which inter- 
fered at that Time. 

I observe with great pleasure that Polly 
is disengag'd from Bowers, as to your af- 
fair I never gave myself any uneasiness 
about that, as I always lookt upon it in 
the Light you Represented it, and am 
Sorry you should think me so base as to 
be all along amusing you with false Storys 
and that, (at the same time I was declar- 
ing my regard for P y) I was making 

my addresses to a Young Lady in Town. 
I hope I never deserv'd such an impu- 
tation and flatter myself that you Really 
think I have more honour in me. I assure 
you that it is false, and that the Story arose 
from much the same Cause that yours did, 
being a particular friend and very inti- 
mate acquaintance of Mr Cazneau, a 
young Attorney in this place, I used fre- 
quently to be with him at his fathers house. 
Consequently got acquainted with his Sis- 
[ 14 ] 



Letter from Mr, Palfrey 

tersjwho I us'd some times to take a walk 
with, & once or twice Carried them with 
some other Ladies to a play, from which 
the Story arose (in this Tattling Town) 
of my Courting her, but I have not been 
near the house for some time past. 

I am very glad that you write your 
mind, as I should think you were no friend 
of mine if you did not, as it is a great mark 
of Freindship, to speak our mind freely 
& Communicate our Sentiments in such 
a manner as that neither of us may be de- 
ceiv'd by Flattery, or Falsity. I should 
have us'd you very Illy & Ungenteely 
indeed had things been as they were re- 
presented to you but I hope you are now 
satisfied that my words & Actions justly 
Tally with each other, the Subjed would 
allow me to Enlarge but being as great a 
Enemy to Prolixty as you possibly can, 
I conclude by assuring you of my Friend- 
ship, and that I shall ever retain a grate- 
full Sense of the favours I have received 
from you & am 

Your affedionate Bro' & hble Serv^ 

Wm. Palfrey 



P. S. Should be glad you would Contrive 

[15] 



True Love Letters 



to meet me next Wednesday at Eleven or 
twelve O'clock at Stearns's if your busi- 
ness will permit. I shall set out if Fair 
weather Tuesday 5 or 6 O'Clock & Lodge 
at Ames's. I hope P y will be at home. 



[16] 



hETTER from Mr. Palfrey 

NO- 8 

Boston 20*^ Feby 1762 
Dear Sir 

IT'S a Long time since I wrote you & 
much Longer since I receivd any of 
your favours. I beleive you never Ex- 
peded to hear from me again, but as I 
think myself bound in duty & Gratitude, 
to vindicate my Condud: with Regard to 

Miss O y, I know of no better way 

than to give you a Circumstantial detail 
of the whole affair from beginning to End, 
in which I shall Endeavour to be as Con- 
cise as possible, though I shall have suf- 
ficient matter to Enlarge upon. 

Its needless for me to repeat the par- 
ticulars of the beginning of our Amour as 
you have already had that verbatim from 
me & have been privy to our Correspond- 
ence from time to time, I shall therefore 
Confine myself to that part of it which 
relates to my meeting her at Newport & 
afterwards at Providence, and doubt not 
you will be fully Satisfied I have aded the 
Honourable part though some ill-natur'd 
people have Suggested to the Contrary. 

You doubtless remember the Letter 

[17] 



True Love Letters 



I left with you to go down to Newport 
where P y then was, that Letter con- 
tained a full proposal & what I intended 
to do in the Affair, that I did not then 
imagine I should be able to go to Provi- 
dence again for that Year, & press'd her 
to give me an answer by Letter, you like- 
wise remember that Letter (w''^ I left w^^ 
you), was by some unlucky accidents de- 
taind, & I being uneasy at nbt receiving 
an Answer and anxious to know the Re- 
sult of my proposal & P ys mind in 

the Affair, made me determine to take 
another journey to Rhode Island at all 
Events, and Endeavour if possible to have 
an interview, accordingly I sett out with 
Mrs Eustis (who was going there to see 
the plays & beg'd me to take her under 
Convoy) when I arriv'd at Providence 
Polly was still at Rhode Island where I 
went immediately & found her there, but 
notwithstanding all my Endeavours I 
could not possibly have a moments pri- 
vate Conversation with her, I had the 
pleasure of seeing you there, and you very 
well know I was with her as much as pos- 
sible, but something or other Continually 
happen'd which hinder'd our being in pri- 
vate, during my tarry there she returned 
[i8] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 

to Providence where I foUowd her though 
strongly SoUicited to go the other Road 
to Boston, when I came there I was as bad 
off as I was before at Newport occasiond 
by the great Number of Travellers w''^ 
were then upon the Road. I at last began 
to think I should be forc'd to go home as 
I came, but was still determined if possi- 
ble to speak with her in private, to which 
purpose I told her Brother Jo. the whole 
affair w^^ the many fruitless attempts I had 
made, & begd him to tell Miss Paget of 

it and invite P y & me there in the 

Evening & take an opp'y of Leaving us 
together, this Scheme at last took, and 
they left us alone. I opend the matter to 

P y by asking her if she had receivd 

my Letter & what she thought of it, she 
gave me an answer that I dont well re- 
member, but when I pressd the matter, 
& beg'd her to give me a positive answer, 
whether my Continuing my addresses to 
her would be agreeable upon the Terms 
I proposd, she told me absolutely that it 
would not, & begd me to think no more 
of her in that way. we parted that Even- 
ing Good friends (as I thought), and as I 
lookt upon what she had said to be a final 

[19] 



True Love Letters 



answer I have never since Corresponded 
with her. 

Upon my return to Boston you may 
well think I was very much Chagrin'd at 
the AiFair, and as I have often told you 
I had then no Connexion with Miss Caz- 
neau who it was reported I courted before, 
but by my intimacy with her Brother I 
continued (after my dismission from 

P -y) to go to the house with him as 

usual, though during the Course of my 
Correspondence with P y I had dis- 
continued going to M' Cazneau's house, 
in order to hinder everything which had 
the Least appearance of Courtship be- 
tween that Lady & me though I have 
since paid my addresses to her, but at the 

time I was after P y I had no more 

Connedion w"^ her than I had with the 
Empress of Russia but my going there 
now, & its being reported I went there 
before makes everyone who does not 
know the right of the Story look upon 
me as a dishonourable person & that I 
paid my respefts to two Ladies at the same 
time. 

There is nothingmoreCommon among 
the general Run of Mankind than to take 
up with Reports upon hearsay, and im- 

[20] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 

prove them to the prejudice of the party 
concerned without even so much as Ex- 
amining the Grounds of such Reports or 
Enquiring into the Fads in order to form 
a right judgment, if every one would give 
themselves the Trouble of doing this, 
Slander would not be so fashionable a Vice, 
nor would so many well meaning people 
be hurt by Calumny. 

I should have wrote you long e'er now 
but upon my return from Prov''^; I heard 
you were at Nantuckett & negledled writ- 
ing from time to time, thro' hurry of busi- 
ness & (our principal hand Mr. Hoskins 
having been Confin'd some time past & 
nobody but myself to look after the busi- 
ness) but hearing last week that my Con- 
duit in the foregoing Affair had been 
greatly Censur'd, I was determin'd to neg- 
le6t it no Longer, but let you know the 
true State of the Case in order as well to 
do myself justice, as to convince you I 
was not imposing on you by false repre- 
sentations which God forbid I ever should 
be Guilty of. You may be assur'd I would 
sooner have my Right hand cut off, than 
be guilty of so base a piece of ingratitude. 

Is it possible I could propose any ad- 
vantage to myself from deceiving Miss 

[21] 



True Love Letters 



■y, or what End could I hope to 



Answer by paying my Respefts to two 
at a time, its preposterous to suppose I 

courted P y with a bad intent as she 

must do me the justice to say she never 
saw in me the Least indecency in speech 
or behaviour, and I always paid her as 
much Resped & behav'd with as much 
deference toward her as I should to a Lady 
of the highest Rank and am so conscious 
of the Sincerity of my intentions, that up- 
on recollefting the whole of my behaviour 
from first to last, I cant charge myself 
with one wrong Step. 

P y is now here but I have had no 

opp"" of being w^^ her only last night at a 
Ball which was the first time I saw her to 
speak to her since that Evening at Provi- 
dence, but observed she was Exceeding 
Shy & behav'd with an Air of distant Re- 
serve, but I behav'd to her as Genteely 
as I was Capable, & notwithstanding she 
has thought proper to Refuse my adresses, 
yet I must still say she 's a most charming 
Girl, & I wish her happiness Equally with 
my own. She was not obliged to like me 
because I fancy'd her, & Ladies though 
they are not allow'd by Custom to make 
a Choice themselves, yet I think they are 

[22] 



L.ET T I. R from Mr. Palfrey 

much better off by having it in their power 
to Refuse that of another. 

And now Sir what think you of the 
Affair? I hope (by what I have said) you 
dont think me so base as to impose upon 
youj the Generous & Kind Treatment I 
have met with from you & your Brothers 
will forever demand the highest Grati- 
tude, & I should be the worst Vilain upon 
Earth if I did you the Least injury, which 
you must certainly think I did if all was 
true that you have heard. When one has 
to do with a person of Reason & judgment 
they have some prosped: of Convincing 
them by fair Argument of the Truth of 
what they assert, but the best Rhetorician 
in the world would have no EfFe6l upon 
an Unreasonable man. But I desire to 
thank God it is not one of the Latter Sort 
I am now adressing myself to, but it's al- 
most time for me to draw to a conclusion 
(as the Parsons say) as I fear I have already 
by my nonsence Tresspassd too much 
Upon your patience and stretch'd my 
Letter to the Length of a Sermon though 
I have gone much further than I at first 
intended. Upon the whole I hope you 
will weigh the thing Candidly in your own 
mind and doubt not you will acquit me 
[23] 



True Love Letters 



of every thing that has been falsely Laid 
to my Charge, my intentions were sincere 
and hon^'^: though I had not the Good 

Fortune to succeed, but had Miss P ^y 

thought proper to have suffered me to 
Continue my adresses she would have 
found very little cause of Complaint, but 
since my leaving her (or Rather her turn- 
ing me off) there has been many Reports 
spread on that acco^' to my prejudice, which 
has given me great uneasiness, no one 
knew the true Circumstances of the AiFair 
but judgd from common Report that I 
had been deceiving her & afterwards left 
her. As you were kind Enough to assist 
me all along I beg leave to return you my 
Sincere thanks for the same, and it is only 
for your Satisfaction that I send you this 
which if you please you may shew Polly 
to know whether I have advanced one 
Fad: which is not true. I beg you 'd Ex- 
cuse the Length, & many needless repe- 
titions in this Letter as I Ve no great Ta- 
lent at it, & I beg you 'd do me the Favour 
to Let me hear from by the very first op- 
portunity. You may depend upon it I shall 
Embrace every opp^ to serve you, and am 



[24] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 

with just Esteem of your many unme- 
ritted Favours 

Truly dear Sir 
Your most affeftionate Br': 

& hble Servant 
Wm. Palfrey 



My Complements to all Friends particu- 
larly your Brother Joseph & Miss Sally. 



[25] 



True Love Letters 



NO- 9 

Trovidence^ 31 arch 5^^ 1762 
Dear Sir 

IREC° yours of the 20^' Feb^y^ 26^'' 
in Vindication of your Condud, in re- 
gard to Miss O y, which gives me the 

Utmost Satisfaction of your Intentions 
being Honourable, and that your Con- 
dud towards her in no Instance gives the 
least Reason to doubt of your Sincerity. 
I am so fully sattisfy'd of the Truth of 
every Surcumstance in your relation that 
I shall have no other Ocation to Comuni- 

cate the Contents of yours to P y, 

than to Convince her; if I find at her re- 
turn home she Retains the Least Doubt 
of your Intions being Honorable, and 
you may Depend S' there shall not be the 
least Tho't Incorag'd in me that you were 
Guilty of a Dishonourable Ad: in the af- 
fair; and I Shall ever do you that Justice 
of Vindicating your Condud when ever 
I find it Nessasary, Consist in the Grand 
principal &c., and believe me to be y' ob^ 
B^ & Hble Serv^ 

[Moses Brown] 

[26] 



Letter from Mr. Palfrey 

NO- lo 

Boston 1 6^^ ^pril 1762 
Dear Sir 

I WROTE you Some time Since but 
have not been favour'd with an An- 
swer, which gives me Strong Reason to 
Suspedl you are not Entirely Satisfied w^^ 
what I wrote Concerning Polly which 
gives me great uneasiness, Though in that 
Letter I said everything I could say con- 
sistent with Truth, & if it is not Satisfac- 
tory, I cant help it, I have nothing to say 
further about it but that it has given me 
infinitely more disturbance than you can 
possibly imagine. Polly is this minute 
gone out of the Store having come in w^*" 
another young Lady to buy some Silks. 
I think I could perceive a visible altera- 
tion in her countenance & behaviour for 
the better, as she did [not] seem to be 
quite so much upon the Reserve as usual. 
The Bearer of this Mr. Hoskins who 
is in the Store w^^ us being upon business 
your way & an Entire Stranger, any Ci- 
vilities you may shew him I shall Esteem 

[27] 



True Love Letters 



as an addition to the many favours Con- 
ferr'd on 

Your much obliged Serv^ 

Wm. Palfrey 



Pray write me by the first opp^ you think 
proper. 



[28] 



R 



I 



Letter from Mr. Brown 

NO- II 

e/f/>r// i8, 1762 

RE C^ yours of y^ 2 6^' Feb^ & Answerd 
it ab' the 5'^ of March which I am In- 
form'd wass Detaind on Acc^ of y^ bad- 
ness of y^ Road betwen here & boston in 
which I gave you my Sentiments in Re- 
gard to to your Condud to M' P — ly 

which I also had given to in Boston 

Since which have rec'^ yours of 1 6^^ April 
and am very Sory I wass not in Town when 
M"* Hoskins Bro't it to our house I have 
not been able to Inform myself whether 
he Returns this way or not, if he does I 
hope to have y^ pleasure of Seeing him. 
Least my Last Letter should Miscary I 
in Short Repeat what I then Wrote, That 
I am fully Satisfy'd you behav'd in Char- 
after both to P y & myself, and am 

very Glad to hear She is Inclining to think 
with me on that affair. I am S' y' Hble 
Serv^ & B^ 

[Moses Brown] 

My Comp^^ to M^ Flag &c. 

[29] 



True Love Letters 



N^- 12 

Boston 20^^ ^pril I'jbz 
Dear Sir 

SINCE my Last to you by Mr. Hos- 
kins, I have Receiv'd one from you 
dated March 5th: I can't think for my 
Life where it has been hid all this Time, 
& am Sorry to say that people in general 
are not so CarefuU of Letters as they ought 
to be. This Letter fell accidently into the 
Hands of Miss Cazneau who from our 
Connexion & a Curiosity Natural to the 
Sex, opend it, — however there was no- 
thing in it but what I had as Lief, she, or 
any other person should see as not, I am 
very glad I have met with that Candor 
from you which the justness & honesty 
of my cause deserved, and hope I shall 
never do any thing to forfeit that good 
opinion which you at present Entertain 
of me, am very much oblig'd to you for 
your kind wishes for our mutual happi- 
ness. Miss Cazneau is a fine young Lady 
& every way Calculated to render the mar- 
riage State agreeable I hope to hear soon 
that my friend Brown has made a choice, 
and wish he may meet with one everyway 

[30] 



h,ETTER from Mr. Palfrey 

Suitable to his Taste, hope Miss Sally is 
well to whom please to make my Com- 
plements & to all other friends. I have 
LongExpeded the pleasure of seeingyou 
in Boston but am now almost out of hopes. 
I am 

Your afFed. Bro: & hble Serv! 

Wm. Palfrey 



P. S. Pray write me & by the post as it 
is a quicker & Surer Conveyance than a 
private hand. 



[31] 



True Love Letters 



NO- 13 

Tuesday 27 ^pril 

SINCE my writing the above, which 
has laid open for want of a Convey- 
ance I have rece'd yours of the 1 8^^ which 
sufficiently accounts for the detention of 
your former one. I have nothing to add, 
save that by means of an intimate Friend 
of mine, I have been inform'd of some 

things w^^ Regard to P-- y which I was 

ignorant of before, & find that her behav- 
iour to me the Last Evening I was at 
Providence, was only an Air of Coquettry , 
as she told my friend Flagg Last Even- 
ing that she thought it would have lookt 
odd for a Young Lady to say Yes, so soon, 
— I suppose she thought I should not 
take No for an Answer. However upon 
the whole she told M' Flagg, that if there 
was any Misunderstanding between us, 
she was very sorry for it, and I hope to 
see her soon, & Compromise matters. 
Though I 'm Entirely Cutt off from ever 
having any further Connexion, neither 
do I desire it, but as I still have a Friend- 
ship for Polly should be sorry to have her 

[32] 



I^ETTEK from Mr. Palfrey 

ill will, and sincerely wish her happy in 
some Clever Man who may able to give 
her all the Satisfadion her heart can wish ; 
I am Sorry I was not acquainted with her 
temper & disposition before as it would 
have prevented all that has happened. I 
should have continued my addresses in 
spiteof No's as I should have lookt upon 
that as a word of Course. Mr. Hoskins 
gives his Complements to you as Like- 
wise Mr. Flag. I am Dear Sir 

Your much oblig'd Serv^' & afiFed''' Bro'* 

Wm. Palfrey 



[33] 



True Love Letters 



Providence, January 7, 1764 

Last Sunday Evening M*^* Moses Brown, 
of this Place, Merchant, was married to Miss 
Nancy Brown, (Daughter of the late Oba- 
DiAH Brown, Esq;) an agreeable young 
Lady, with a handsome Fortune. 

From the Providence Gazette and Country Jour- 
nal^ Saturday, January 7, 1764. 



Providence, August 25, 1764 

Tuesday EveninglastM^'THOM AS Greene, 
of Boston, Merchant, was married to Miss 
Polly Olney, of this Town; a young Lady 
who has real Merit, added to a beautiful Person, 
to grace the connubial State, and perpetuate its 
Felicity. 

From the Providence Gazette and Country Jour- 
nal, Saturday, August 25, 1764. 



Boston, February 14, 1765 

M"^* William Palfrey was married to 
Miss Sarah Cazneau. 



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